Did Luther claim for himself that infallibility, which he would not allow to the Church of Christ?

Here's one from the Catholic Answers forums:

Sep 26, '16, 4:12 am

Dpoc41  Junior Member Join Date: November 29, 2009 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 318 Religion: Roman Catholic

Did Luther claim for himself that infallibility, which he would not allow to the Church of Christ ? Mimicking the style of St. Paul he wrote "I, Martin Luther, by the grace of God, ecclesiastes in Wittenberg, to the popish bishops grace and peace. This title I now assume with the utmost contempt of you and Satan, that you may not plead ignorance. And should I style myself an evangelist by the grace of God, I could sooner prove my claim to this title, than you to that of bishop. For I am certain that Christ himself calls me so, and looks upon me as an ecclesiastes. He is that master of my doctrine. Neither doubt I, but in the great day of accounts he will be my witness, that this doctrine is not mine, but the doctrine of God, of the spirit of the Lord, and of the pure and sincere gospel. So that should you kill me, ye bloodsuckers, yet you will never extinguish either me, or my name, or my doctrine, unless Christ be not living. Since now I am certain that I teach the word of God, it is not fit I should want a title for the recommending of this word, and work of the ministry, to which I am called by God; which I have not received of men, nor by men, but by the gift of God, and revelation of Jesus Christ—And now I declare beforehand, that for the time to come, I will not honor you so far, as to condescend to submit myself, or my doctrine to your judgment, or to that of an angel from heaven." Tom. 2, fol. 305, 2.

A participant at Catholic Answers posted this quote apparently to insinuate Luther claimed himself infallible and the Roman church fallible. Others responded, "It does seem that way in word and action. This narrative only reinforces what we already know." "Dr. David Anders, host of EWTN's "Called to Communion" believes that ML was manic-depressive, based on historical records of his radically variable behavior." "If not infallibility, ML was certainly filled with condemnation of those who disagreed with him. I think this is a distinction without a difference." In fairness to the discussion, there were participants which did not throw Luther under the bus.

A basic search of this quote reveals this English form dates back to at least to the early 1800's (1831, 1844, 1845, etc.), typically used by the defenders of Rome.  Other English versions of it also can be found in this time period (1817). Henry O'Connor references parts of it, as does Verres.

Variations of this quote focusing on Luther saying his doctrine will not be judged by either the papacy or "an angel from heaven" have been used against Luther for quite a long time by Roman Catholics. Cochlaeus (a contemporary of Luther's) cites it as a savage and rebellious statement. Jacques Maritain cites it as an example of "egocentrism: something much subtler, much deeper, and much more serious, than egoism; a metaphysical egoism." Patrick O'Hare alludes to the quote as an example of Luther's "disregard for all authority save his own." Henry O'Connor uses it as an example of Luther claiming his own authority and infallibility: "Did any Pope ever proclaim his Authority and Infallibility in a more unmistakable manner?" J. Verras cites it as Luther's "high opinion of himself" and "inexpressible contempt for all who dare to oppose him or to disagree from him." Hartmann Grisar uses it as an example of Luther's growing insistence on private revelation from God. An old copy of Catholic Weekly infers that Luther may have been insane by making such a statement.

Documentation

The documentation refers to "Tom. 2, fol. 305, 2." This refers to a page from the second edition of the Wittenberg edition of Luther's Works (the edition I located has the quote at fol. 306, 2).  In context, the quote does not read as it's being cited. It's been pieced together from multiple paragraphs, a typical tactic of Rome's defenders.  The text being cited is truncated from the Latin text of Luther's Adversus falso nominatum ordinem episcoporum (1522). The original German version can be found in WA 10 2:105 (Wider den falsch genantten geystlichen stand des Babst und der bischoffen). The German text has been translated into English in LW 39:239-300 (Against the Spiritual Estate of the Pope and the Bishops Falsely So Called). The quote can be pieced together from pages 247-249.


Context

Martin Luther, ecclesiastic in Wittenberg by the grace of God: To the papal bishops [I offer] my service and self-understanding in Christ.

Although I might be regarded as a fool by you, dear lords, because of the haughty title I call myself, an ecclesiastic by the grace of God, you should know that I am not at all surprised by this. You curse, slander, condemn, persecute, and possibly even burn me as a heretic for the sake of a high and noble cause. In this you act as you please, according to the pleasure of your idol. As a result of God’s disfavor you have the virtue that you do not want to listen. Neither do you want to give an answer. Instead, like the hardened Jews you blasphemously and stubbornly want to condemn me without a hearing, without investigating the cause, without overcoming me. You are not even ashamed of letting a man defy you so frequently with such good reason. Very well then, since it is a question of lowering the horns and acting with brute force, I too have to lower my horns and risk my head for my Lord. In order to get things started, I call myself an ecclesiastic by the grace of God in defiance of you and the devil, although you call me a heretic with an abundance of slander. And even if I called myself an evangelist by the grace of God, I would still be more confident of proving it than that any one of you could prove his episcopal title or name. I am certain that Christ himself, who is the master of my teaching, gives me this title and regards me as one. Moreover, he will be my witness on the Last Day that it is not my pure gospel but his. Thus your raging and raving is not going to help you at all. Rather, the more you rage and rave, the haughtier we shall be toward you, with God’s help, and [the more we] shall despise your disgrace. Even though you might take my life, since you are murderers, you will annihilate neither my name nor my teaching. For you too will have to die at last and put an end to murder.

Now that I am deprived of my titles through papal and imperial disfavor and my bestial character is washed away with so many bulls that I need never be called either Doctor of Holy Scripture or some kind of papal creature, I am almost as shocked as an ass who has lost its bag. For these masks were my greatest shame before God. I too was once in error (which I learned from your crowd at great price and with great effort), a liar, a cheater, a seducer, and a blasphemer against God’s pure teaching, as you are now. But the Father of all mercy did not look at my vice, blasphemy, and my very sinful, evil life; instead, out of the infinite richness of his grace, he permitted me to know his Son, Jesus Christ, and to teach [him] to others, until we were certain of his truth. However, I need not have any title and name to praise highly the word, office, and work which I have from God and which you blind blasphemers defile and persecute beyond measure. I trust my praise will overcome your defiling, just as my justice will overcome your injustice. It does not matter if, with your blasphemy, you are on top for the moment.

Therefore, I now let you know that from now on I shall no longer do you the honor of allowing you—or even an angel from heaven—to judge my teaching or to examine it. For there has been enough foolish humility now for the third time at Worms, and it has not helped. Instead, I shall let myself be heard and, as St. Peter teaches, give an explanation and defense of my teaching to all the world [I Pet. 3:15]. I shall not have it judged by any man, not even by any angel. For since I am certain of it, I shall be your judge and even the angels’ judge through this teaching (as St. Paul says [I Cor. 6:3]) so that whoever does not accept my teaching may not be saved—for it is God’s and not mine. Therefore, my judgment is also not mine but God’s.

Finally, dear lords, let this be the conclusion: If I live you shall have no peace from me, and if you kill me you shall have ten times less peace, for I shall be, as Hosea says, a bear on the road and a lion in the street [Hos. 13:8]. No matter how you handle me, you shall not have your will until your iron head and stiff neck are broken with either grace or disgrace. If you do not improve as I would like to see you do, then it is agreed that you threaten with hostility and I do not care. May God grant that you know yourselves. Amen. (LW 39:247-249)

Conclusion
This treatise was in part provoked by the sale of indulgences. Note the opposing gospel of indulgences put forth from Rome that Luther opposed in his treatise:

On September 15, 1521, Archbishop Albrecht of Mainz celebrated the annual festival of relics at his newly built cathedral, the Church of St. Moritz and Mary Magdalene in Halle, with the official announcement that indulgences would be granted to all visitors to the exhibition of relics. Anyone who prayed at a shrine and gave alms was promised an indulgence of four thousand years; anyone who confessed his sins to one of the priests hearing confessions in the cathedral during the ten days of the celebration would receive a plenary indulgence. Pope Leo X had issued a bull in 1519 granting the cathedral of Halle the same privileges granted to the Church of St. Peter in Rome: its confessors were authorized to absolve cases usually absolved only by the apostolic see in Rome; in addition, they could convert vows into financial contributions for the completion of the Halle cathedral—privileges not unusual in the established indulgence practice of the Roman curia. (LW 39:241).

Luther wrote against this and other severe results of the "gospel" of Papalism as well in an earlier treatise that was blocked from publication by Elector Frederick, and its possibility of "a threat to public peace" (LW 39:241). An angered Luther then went on to compose a similar but more general writing against indulgences: Against the Spiritual Estate of the Pope and the Bishops Falsely So-Called.  LW notes, "Luther... was more concerned with the evil of the indulgences than with the person of the archbishop of Mainz. 'I wanted to put an end to ungodliness,' he wrote to Melanchthon on January 13, 1522" (LW 39:243).LW 39 also explains: "Luther’s highly polemical and satirical language, more evident in this treatise than in others, was prompted by the recurrence of the indulgence traffic in the territory of Albrecht of Mainz" (LW 39:244). Included also were arguments for the right of priests to marry, and the right of an individual to criticize or correct an authority when that authority is corrupt. 

It's obvious from the context above that Luther was highly polemical, and I would add, seemingly (or justifiably) angry.  That Roman Catholic interpreters pounce on these statements is a telling sign of missing the point (and perhaps never even bothering to read the entire document this quote was taken from). Note some of the words typically left out in Roman Catholic versions of the quote:

I shall no longer do you the honor of allowing you—or even an angel from heaven—to judge my teaching or to examine it. For there has been enough foolish humility now for the third time at Worms, and it has not helped. Instead, I shall let myself be heard and, as St. Peter teaches, give an explanation and defense of my teaching to all the world [I Pet. 3:15].

Luther had subjected himself to the judgment of Rome, and to what result? Obfuscation and subterfuge! Luther then states he's going to give an explanation and defense, which he does. Towards the end of the treatise,  after pages of scriptural argumentation against Rome, Luther sums it all by stating one needs to judge his arguments for yourself:

If someone said to me at this point, “Previously you have rejected the pope; will you now also reject bishops and the spiritual estate? Is everything to be turned around?” my answer would be: Judge for yourself and decide whether I turn things around by preferring divine word and order, or whether they turn things around by preferring their order and destroying God’s. Tell me, which is right: for them to turn God’s order around, or for me to turn their blasphemous devil’s order around? Do not look at the work itself but at the basis and reason for the work. Nobody should look at that which opposes God’s word, nor should one care what the consequences may or may not be. Instead, one should look at God’s word alone and not worry—even if angels were involved—about who will get hurt, what will happen, or what the result will be (LW 39:279).

Further, the quote in its historical context shows that there were two "teachings" in conflict. For instance, in regard to indulgences, there was that put forth by Luther (indulgences are not of divine authority) and that put forth by Rome (indulgences are of divine authority). Luther states:

In all the indulgence bulls [the Pope] promises forgiveness of sins to all those who have repented and confessed. This is the worst poison and most harmful seduction emanating from that supreme seducer, the pope, and from his masks. Christ, Matthew 9[:2], did not say to the paralytic, “If you put money in the box your sins are forgiven.” Rather, he said, “Be of good courage,” or, “Trust firmly and your sins are forgiven.” These wolves and damned masks tear people away from this blessed faith and trust in God’s sheer grace which alone grants forgiveness of sins. Instead, they lead people to put their trust in bulls, paper, and money so that simple minds learn to rely on their own works and not on God’s grace. The accursed pretension of such bulls is abominable beyond imagining, because it condemns and destroys God’s first and foremost commandment, namely, the commandment which teaches trust in God’s grace alone. They teach trust in paper and wax, that is, in their invalid and accursed lies (LW 39:275).

In one instance during his treatise, Luther mentions that indulgences went as far as "to preach that people may keep their ill-gotten goods if they give them a portion of them and also let them have the profits from them" (LW 39:273). How does Luther respond, by declaring his own infallible authority? No, he refers back to the Scripture "You shall not steal." Throughout the treatise, Luther simply refers to the clear words of Scripture to refute Rome. For instance:

St. Paul said to Titus that he should appoint a married and blameless bishop in every town [Titus 1:5–7]. That is undoubtedly God’s order, will, and opinion. Our papal bishops fight against this; they removed the bishops from every town and made themselves bishops over many towns. But St. Paul stands here—indeed, the Holy Spirit stands here firmly and strongly—saying that every town should have a bishop and that they must all be equals. St. Paul speaks of every town and considers all bishops to be equal (LW 39:278).

In the (introduction) Luther states, "I am certain that Christ himself, who is the master of my teaching, gives me this title [ecclesiastic] and regards me as one. Moreover, he will be my witness on the Last Day that it is not my pure gospel but his." Luther is claiming he's been given his teaching from Christ. Does he claim, like Paul, that Christ appeared to him? No. What he's speaking about is the teaching of Scripture. This brief snippet from the Theological Quarterly of the Lutheran Synod of Missouri sums this up far better than I ever could:

Luther's claim to authority as a teacher of God's Word is the common claim of every Christian who proves his belief from the Scriptures. The infallibility of the Scriptures becomes the infallibility of the teachers of Scripture. They can challenge the world as Isaiah did: "To the Law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them"; or Christ: "The Scripture cannot be broken"; or Paul: "Though an angel from heaven preached other gospel to you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed!" —[source]

Addendum

Yesterday, 9:05 am

TertiumQuid  Regular Member Join Date: May 19, 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 911 Religion: Reformed

Re: Did Luther claim for himself that infallibility, which he would not allow to the Church of Christ ? Quote: Originally Posted by DaddyGirl  Where does this quote/writing come from? If these are his words, it doesn't sound like he's claiming "infallibility" for himself with them. . The documentation refers to "Tom. 2, fol. 305, 2." This refers to a page from the second edition of the Wittenberg edition of Luther's Works (the edition I located has the quote at fol. 306, 2). This is the Latin version. The original German version can be found in WA 10 2:105 (Wider den falsch genantten geystlichen stand des Babst und der bischoffen). The text was written in 1522, early in Luther's Reformation battle. Someone already mentioned the treatise is found in English in LW 39 (Against the Spiritual Estate of the Pope and the Bishops Falsely So Called). In context, the quote does not read as it's being cited. It's been pieced together from multiple paragraphs pieced together from pages 247-249. My opinion is that the context demonstrates that Luther was highly polemical, and I would add, seemingly (or justifiably) angry.He was not claiming infallibility in the Catholic sense. Here's a question to think about related to this: If I quote this verse of scripture here on this forum: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Am I speaking infallibly?

Yesterday, 9:12 am

rcwitness  Regular Member Join Date: January 9, 2013 Location: Archdiocese of Milwaukee Posts: 3,747 Religion: Catholic (brother to all Christians)

Re: Did Luther claim for himself that infallibility, which he would not allow to the Church of Christ ? Quote: Originally Posted by TertiumQuid  Here's a question to think about related to this: If I quote this verse of scripture here on this forum: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Am I speaking infallibly? Ha! No, of course not. You are repeating what has been infallibly declared inerrant!

Yesterday, 3:03 pm

TertiumQuid  Regular Member Join Date: May 19, 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 911 Religion: Reformed

Re: Did Luther claim for himself that infallibility, which he would not allow to the Church of Christ ? Quote: Originally Posted by rcwitness  Ha! No, of course not. You are repeating what has been infallibly declared inerrant! But isn't "repeating" also speaking? I posed the question within the confines of the Luther quote in question to bring out the nuances of what is meant by infallibility. I've not read any of Dpoc41's posts previous to this discussion, so I can only guess as to the intention as to why this particular Luther quote was posted (with a reference to a text most people could not locate and also written in a language probably most here cannot read). It appears to me it was posted to insinuate Luther claimed himself infallible and the Catholic church fallible. The context of the document being cited doesn't assert Luther thought himself infallible in the sense that he was receiving revelation or speaking infallibly on behalf of God ("from the chair" of Luther). In Luther's mind, it was the Bible which was the sole infallible document, so when he quoted scripture, he was appealing to the infallibility of the Scriptures. Luther's thoroughly believed that his "teaching" was simply repeating the doctrine found plainly in sacred scripture.

Yesterday, 3:15 pm

rcwitness  Regular Member Join Date: January 9, 2013 Location: Archdiocese of Milwaukee Posts: 3,747 Religion: Catholic (brother to all Christians)

Re: Did Luther claim for himself that infallibility, which he would not allow to the Church of Christ ? Quote: Originally Posted by TertiumQuid  But isn't "repeating" also speaking? I posed the question within the confines of the Luther quote in question to bring out the nuances of what is meant by infallibility. I've not read any of Dpoc41's posts previous to this discussion, so I can only guess as to the intention as to why this particular Luther quote was posted (with a reference to a text most people could not locate and also written in a language probably most here cannot read). It appears to me it was posted to insinuate Luther claimed himself infallible and the Catholic church fallible. The context of the document being cited doesn't assert Luther thought himself infallible in the sense that he was receiving revelation or speaking infallibly on behalf of God ("from the chair" of Luther). In Luther's mind, it was the Bible which was the sole infallible document, so when he quoted scripture, he was appealing to the infallibility of the Scriptures. Luther's thoroughly believed that his "teaching" was simply repeating the doctrine found plainly in sacred scripture. That's what all denominations believe. Even Calvin and several other Reformers whom Luther strongly opposed. 2nd Peter warns against twisting Scriptures. But Catholics do it all the time also. Only the Magisterium, when under lawful conditions, declares a matter of faith and morals (or Biblical interpretation) has binding authority and is free from error. All of us members (hierarchy as well) can be right, or wrong. If we are led by faith, we will receive the Declarations of the Church as free from error. Even as we have accepted the Canon of Scripture with all of its parts.

Yesterday, 7:35 pm

Peter J  Forum Master Join Date: April 7, 2008 Location: Constitution Party Posts: 14,842 Religion: Catholic

Re: Did Luther claim for himself that infallibility, which he would not allow to the Church of Christ ? Quote: Originally Posted by TertiumQuid  But isn't "repeating" also speaking? Yes. And I don't doubt that there have been instances in which somebody infallibly repeated something that had previously been said. But I think RCW's point is that you don't necessarily have to exercise infallibility in order to say something true. P.S. Are you familiar with Scott Hahn's phrase "a fallible list of infallible documents"?

oday, 9:04 am

rcwitness  Regular Member Join Date: January 9, 2013 Location: Archdiocese of Milwaukee Posts: 3,747 Religion: Catholic (brother to all Christians)

Re: Did Luther claim for himself that infallibility, which he would not allow to the Church of Christ ? Quote: Originally Posted by Peter J  But I think RCW's point is that you don't necessarily have to exercise infallibility in order to say something true. Right. And I think the OP is addressing a particular position that Evangelicals take when they assert something they believe. That is, when they claim and teach something to be true without acknowledging that they could be wrong.

oday, 2:24 pm

TertiumQuid  Regular Member   Join Date: May 19, 2004 Location: New Jersey Posts: 911 Religion: Reformed

Re: Did Luther claim for himself that infallibility, which he would not allow to the Church of Christ ? Quote: Originally Posted by rcwitness  I think the OP is addressing a particular position that Evangelicals take when they assert something they believe. That is, when they claim and teach something to be true without acknowledging that they could be wrong. FWIW, I did not interpret the OP in this sense. I think the OP was making a simple point rather than the deeper issues you're raising. The OP used an obscure out-of-context quote from Luther in order to say the answer to the question asked was, YES: Luther claimed for himself that infallibility, which he would not allow to the Church of Christ. The quote itself served as a typical snippet of propaganda, pieced together from multiple paragraphs (spanning at least three pages). The reference given was to a text most people could not locate and also written in a language probably most here cannot read. As I stated earlier, I've not read any of Dpoc41's other posts previous to this discussion, so this is only a guess as to the intention as to why this particular Luther quote was posted. Thanks though for the interesting dialog on related issues.